Open Fronted Cabinet

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an open fronted food storage cabinet. The cabinet has a top, rear, base and opposed sides. The top, rear, base and opposing sides define an interior space of the cabinet which is accessible through an opening to the front of the cabinet. The opening is defined between edges of the top, base and opposing sides of the cabinet. The cabinet includes an interior chassis structure comprised of a base panel, a rear panel and a top panel which are mechanically connected to one another. The base, rear and top panels are each formed from a structural sandwich composite material having thermal insulation properties. The rear panel includes an aperture to which a mechanism operable to alter the temperature within interior space of the cabinet is mounted.

The present invention relates to a food storage unit. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a temperature controlled open frontedcabinet for the display and vending of foodstuffs.

The food service industry currently relies on multi-tiered displaycabinets that either have no form of temperature control within, or haveeither refrigerated or heated interiors. The cabinets themselves canonly perform a single function generally within the cabinet interiorsthat creates a temperature regime for the entire contents of the cabinetat the same or similar temperatures.

There are numerous heated cabinets available that allow modification ofheated shelf temperatures that differ within the cabinet, however due tothe constraints of the cabinets, the shelves are not discreet withrespect to each other and thus affect the surrounding shelves by eitherconduction or convection of heat to bring about a cumulative increase intemperature throughout the cabinet. Some existing designs use apartition within the overall cabinet, usually horizontal, to make theshelves into discreet areas that are heated independently. Thepropensity of such heated cabinets to lose heat either by conduction,radiation or convection make the integration of refrigerated areas andheated areas very difficult to separate.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is providedan open fronted food storage cabinet having a top, rear, base andopposed sides, the top, rear, base and opposing sides defining aninterior space of the cabinet which is accessible through an opening tothe front of the cabinet defined between edges of the top, base andopposing sides of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet includes an interiorchassis structure comprised of a base panel, a rear panel and a toppanel which are mechanically connected to one another, wherein furtherthe base, rear and top panels are each formed from a structural sandwichcomposite material having thermal insulation properties, and whereinfurther the rear panel includes an aperture to which a mechanismoperable to alter the temperature within interior space of the cabinetis mounted.

The chassis serves as both a structural member to which other componentsof the cabinet are attached and to provide thermal insulation so as to,in use, enable the interior space of the cabinet to be maintained at adesired temperature.

The structural sandwich composite material may include an inner core ofexpanded polymer and outer metal layers. The expanded polymer may beexpanded polystyrene. Alternatively, the expanded polymer may beexpanded polypropylene. The outer metal layers of the composite materialmay be Aluminium alloy.

The sides of the cabinet comprise side panels which are mounted to thestructural chassis of the cabinet. The side panels may advantageously beat least partially transparent. The side panels may be mounted to thestructural chassis by fasteners which extend through apertures of theside wall and into fixtures located within or on the faces of the panelsof the chassis.

The mechanism operable to alter the temperature within interior space ofthe cabinet is in the form of a cassette which is fittable to andremovable from the aperture in the rear panel of the chassis. Thecassette may thus be constructed and tested independently of the chassisbefore fitment thereto. In the event that the cassette needs replacementduring the life of the cabinet it can be easily removed and replaced.

The mechanism operable to alter the temperature within interior space ofthe cabinet may be a heating mechanism. The heating mechanism mayinclude an electric heating element and a fan.

The cabinet may includes an additional heating means provided in a lowerregion of the cabinet interior space. The additional heating means maybe a heated floor of the cabinet interior space. The heated floor maycomprise a glass or ceramic glass plate and an electrical resistanceheater. The heated floor of the cabinet is preferably operableindependently of the fan and heating element heating mechanism.

Alternatively, the mechanism operable to alter the temperature withininterior space of the cabinet may be a cooling mechanism. The coolingmechanism may include a vapour compression refrigeration circuit and afan. Alternatively the cooling mechanism may include a Peltier devicewith or without a fan.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is providedan open fronted food storage cabinet having a top, rear, base andopposed sides, the top, rear, base and opposing sides defining aninterior space of the cabinet which is accessible through an opening tothe front of the cabinet defined between edges of the top base andopposing sides of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet includes an interiorchassis structure comprised of a base panel, an upper rear panel, alower rear panel, a top panel and an intermediate panel which aremechanically connected to one another, the intermediate panel beingpositioned between the upper and lower rear panels to divide theinterior space into an upper portion and a lower portion, whereinfurther the base, rear, intermediate and top panels are each formed froma structural sandwich composite material having thermal insulationproperties, and wherein further at least on of the rear panel includesan aperture to which a mechanism operable to alter the temperaturewithin interior space of the cabinet is mounted.

The intermediate panel serves both as a base for the upper portion ofthe interior space and as a top for the lower portion of the interiorspace. The intermediate panel further provides a thermal barrier betweenthe upper and lower portions of the interior space. The temperaturewithin each portion of the interior space can thus be managedindependently of the other. For example, one portion of the interiorspace can be heated and the other chilled. Alternatively, one portion ofthe interior space can be heated to a first temperature and the otherportion heated to a different second temperature. In yet an alternativeembodiment, one of the portions of the interior space may be heated orchilled, and the other portion of the interior space maintained at anambient temperature. It will be understood that these combinations arenot intended to be limiting and that other combinations are possible.

Subsidiary features described with reference to the first aspect of thepresent invention are equally applicable to the cabinet of the secondaspect.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cabinet according to a first aspectthe present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the cabinet;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the cabinet with the side panelsremoved;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the cabinet with one side panel removed;

FIG. 5 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the cabinet;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the composite material of thechassis of the cabinet;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a cabinet according to a first aspectthe present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the cabinet;

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the cabinet with the side panels removed;and

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the chassis of the cabinet.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings there is shown an open frontedcabinet generally designated 10. The cabinet 10 includes a base 12, arear 14, a top 16 and opposed sides 18,20. The base, rear, top and sides12,14,16,18,20 define an interior space 22 of the cabinet 10. The openfront 24 of the cabinet 10 is defined between respective edges of thebase, top and sides 12,16,18,20.

The interior space 22 of the cabinet 10 defines a space within whichfoodstuffs can be placed for subsequent selection and retrieval by aconsumer. The consumer is able to reach into the interior space 22through the open front 24 in order to retrieve their selection.

Within the cabinet 10 there is provided a generally “C” or “U” shapedsubassembly 26. The subassembly 26, hereinafter referred the chassis ofthe cabinet 10, defines the primary structural component of the cabinet10.

The chassis 26 has a base panel 12 a, a rear panel 14 a and a top panel16 a. Each of the panels 12 a, 14 a, 16 a is formed from a sandwichcomposite material. A cross-sectional representation of the compositematerial 28 is shown in FIG. 6. The composite material 28 comprises aninner core 30 of expanded polymer which is sandwiched between twoopposing metal skins 32,34. The expanded polymer may comprise, forexample, expanded polystyrene (EPS) having a density of approximately 30grams per litre or expanded polypropylene (EPP) having a density ofapproximately 60 grams per litre. Alternatively, the expanded polymermay be of a specific density as required to provide the correctstructural to insulation ratio for a given cabinet. The inner core 30may have a thickness of between approximately 20 mm and 80 mm. As willbe described in greater detail below, EPS is utilised for chilled orrefrigerated cabinets 10, while EPP is utilised for heated cabinets 10.As will be described in greater detail below, multizone cabinets may beprovided, and such cabinets may have both heated and chilled zones. Insuch embodiments EPP would be used. In yet a further embodiment, acabinet may be configured to be either heated or chilled. In such anembodiment EPP would be used.

The chassis 26 this fulfils the dual roles of providing the primarystructure for the cabinet 10 and further providing thermal insulationbetween the cabinet interior space 22 and the exterior of the cabinet 10to the top 16, base 12 and rear 14 of the cabinet 10. As will bedescribed in greater detail below, the interior space 22 of the cabinet10 may be heated or chilled relative to the ambient temperature to theexterior of the cabinet 10. The thermal insulation provided by thechassis 26, depending upon whether the cabinet 10 is heated or chilled,acts to maintain the cabinet interior space 22 at a desired temperature.The thermal insulation provided by the chassis 26 further seeks toprevent the exterior top, rear and base faces of the cabinet 10 becomingexcessively hot or cold. Excessive cooling on the exterior faces maylead to condensation forming on the cabinet 10, while excessive heatingmay lead to a user or consumer safety issue.

The opposing metal skins 32,34 may each be made from Aluminium alloy andhave a thickness of between approximately 0.7 mm and 1.2 mm. In order toconstruct each of the panels 12 a, 14 a, 16 a an inner core 30 is cut tothe required shape, for example, utilising a water jet cutter. The outermetal layers 32,34 are also cut to the required shapes, for exampleusing a punch or laser tool. The outer metal skins 32, 34 are thenadhesively bonded to the inner core 30 using a platen press.Alternatively, the panels 12 a, 14 a, 16 a may be formed by applying theblank metal outer skins 32,34 to an inner core 30 of standard size, andbonding them together using an adhesive and applying even pressure by aplaten press. The panel 12 a, 14 a, 16 a thus formed can then be cut toshape using either a water jet or router.

In order to construct the chassis 26 from the panels 12 a, 14 a, 16 a,the panels 12 a, 14 a, 16 a are mechanically connected to one another.The mechanical connection may be achieved by the use of fasteners whichpass through an aperture one panel and are received in an insert onanother panel. For example, threaded fasteners may be used and which arereceived in complementarily threaded inserts. In such an embodiment, thethreaded inserts may be inserted into voids made in the inner core 30 byhot shaped formers. Although not shown, the chassis 26 may further beprovided with substantially “L” shaped supports which extend between therear 14 a and top 16 a panels to the interior of the chassis 26. Suchsupports would be manufactured from the same sandwich composite materialas the rest of the chassis, and mechanically connected to the chassis 26to provide additional rigidity to the structure. Threaded inserts canalso be applied to the outer metal faces of any of the panels 12 a, 14a, 16 a for attachment to other panels or to additional metal foldingsor structures.

The sides 18,20 of the cabinet 10 are formed by panels 18 a, 20 a. Inthe embodiment shown, the panels 18 a, 20 a are transparent and may bemanufactured from, for example, toughened glass. As such, the sidepanels 18 a, 20 a allow ambient light to enter cabinet interior 22, andfurther permit consumers to view the cabinet interior 22 from the sideof the cabinet 10. It will be appreciated that in alternativeembodiments the side panels 18 a, 20 a may be opaque. The side panels 18a, 20 a may be double glazed units. Such double glazed units maycomprise the entire side panels 18 a, 20 a. Alternatively, the sidepanels 18 a, 20 a may incorporate glazed inserts.

Each side panel 18 a, 20 a is connected to the chassis 26 by threadedfasteners 36. The fasteners 36 extend through apertures of each panel 18a, 20 a and into complementarily threaded inserts located in the innercore 30 of the chassis 26. Alternatively, the side panels 18 a, 201 maybe attached via bolts extending through brackets attached to the innerfaces of the insulative panels 12 a, 14 a, 16 a and into threadedinserts retained by the side panels.

The rear panel 14 a of the chassis 26 is provided with a throughaperture 38. In the embodiment shown the through aperture 38 isrectangular, however it will be appreciated that this shape is notintended to be limiting. The through aperture 38 corresponds in shape toa heater cassette generally designated 40. The cassette 40 includes arectangular body 42, a pair of fans 44 and a pair ring shaped heatingelements 46 which surround the fans 44. The fans and heating elements44,46 are positioned on the side of the body 42 which faces the cabinetinterior 22 when the heater cassette 40 is fitted to the aperture 38. Inuse, and as will be described in greater detail below, the fans 44 areoperable to draw air over the heating elements 46, and then move theheated air into the cabinet interior 22.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the heater cassette 40 may besubstituted with a chiller cassette operable to deliver chilled air tothe cabinet interior 22. In such an embodiment the chiller cassette isprovided with at least one fan 44 and a cooling arrangement. The coolingarrangement may, for example, comprise a miniature refrigeration circuithaving compressor/condenser unit, or a piezoelectric cooling element. Inother embodiments, the refrigeration compressing/condensing unit may beremote to the insulated body and be connected via pipework to theinternal evaporator means. In a similar manner to the heater cassette40, the chiller cassette is operable to draw air over the coolingarrangement, and then move the chilled air into the cabinet interior 22.

The interior space 22 of the cabinet 10 is further provided with a floor48. The floor 48 is mounted to and supported by the base panel 16 a ofthe chassis 26. Where the cabinet 10 is a heated cabinet, and thus isprovided with a heater cassette 40, the floor 48 may be heated. In suchan embodiment the floor 48 may be formed from a glass ceramic andfurther be provided with a resistive heating element.

The interior space 22 is further provided with an interior facia panel50 which is spaced from the top 16 a and rear 14 a panels of the chassis26. As can be seen from FIG. 4 the interior facia panel 50 is spacedfrom the top and rear panels 16 a, 14 a so as to define a passageway 52between the interior facia panel 50 and the top panel 16 a, and achamber 54 between the interior facia panel 50 and the rear panel 14 a.In use, the fans 44 and heating elements 46 of the heater cassette 40are positioned within the chamber 54. The interior facia panel 50 isfurther provided with a plurality of apertures 56 which permit fluidcommunication between the chamber 54 and the cabinet interior space 22.The apertures 56 are grouped so as to be adjacent the fans 44 of theheater cassette 40.

The top panel 16 a of the chassis 26 is further provided with an upperprofile member 58. The upper profile member 58 extends across the fullwidth of the top panel 16 a between the side panels 18 a,20 a. The upperprofile member 58 is provided along the edge of the top panel 16 a whichpartially defines the open front 24 of the cabinet 10. The upper profilemember 58 may be formed by extrusion from Aluminium alloy. The upperprofile member 58 is connected to the top panel 16 a by the insertion ofa projection 60 of the upper profile member 58 into expanded polymerinner core 30 of the top panel 16 a. The upper profile member 58 isfurther provided with one or more lights 62 which, in use, are operableto illuminate the interior space 22 of the cabinet 10. The upper profilemember 58 is further provided with a downwardly depending airflowdeflector 64.

The base panel 12 a of the chassis 26 is further provided with a lowerprofile member 66. The lower profile member 66 extends across the fullwidth of the base panel 12 a between the side panels 18 a,20 a. Thelower profile member 66 is provided along the edge of the base panel 12a which partially defines the open front 24 of the cabinet 10. The lowerprofile member 66 may be formed by extrusion from Aluminium alloy. Thelower profile member 66 is connected to the base panel 12 a by theinsertion of a projection 68 of the lower profile member 66 intoexpanded polymer inner core 30 of the base panel 12 a. The lower profilemember 66 is further provided with an upwardly projecting airflowdeflector or riser 70.

In use, the cabinet 10 can be operated in a number of modes. Firstly,the cabinet 10 can be operated in an “OFF” mode. In such a mode thecabinet 10 is unlit and the heater cassette 40 is not operated. In theinstance where the cabinet 10 is provided with a heated floor 48, thistoo is not operated. It will this be understood that the temperature ofthe interior space 22 will be substantially equal to the externalambient temperature. The lack of internal illumination should indicateto the observer that the cabinet 10 is not in operation.

The cabinet 10 can be operated in a “LIT” mode. In such a mode thelights 62 of the upper profile member 58 are operated so as toilluminate the interior space of the cabinet 10. In the “LIT” mode theheater cassette 40 is not operated and in the instance where the cabinet10 is provided with a heated floor 48, this too is not operated. As withthe “OFF” mode, the temperature of the interior space 22 will besubstantially equal to the external ambient temperature. In the “LIT”mode the cabinet 10 may be used to store and display foodstuffs that donot require heating.

The cabinet 10 may further be operated in a “HEATED” mode. In such amode the heater cassette 40 is operated so as to raise the temperaturewithin the interior space of the cabinet 10. The arrows shown on FIG. 4illustrate the manner in which air is circulated within the interiorspace 22 of the cabinet. Operation of the fans 44 and heater elements 46causes air within the chamber 54 to be heated and then forced into theduct 52 formed by panel 50 and the top insulated panel 16 a andconstrained by the side panels 18 a, 20 a. The air is then passed out ofaperture 72 and deflected by airflow deflector 64 in a downwardlydirection over the front aperture 24 forming an air curtain over theopen front of cabinet 10. The air curtain passes behind the lower riser70 and travels across the floor 48 and generally across the extents ofthe interior of the space back towards the apertures 56 that allowaccess to air for the fans 44. The fan forces are centrifugal and acceptthe air on the fan blade face and distribute the air radially from thefan centre over the heaters 46. The heated air thus increases thetemperature of the interior space 22. The cabinet 10 is provided with athermostat to regulate the temperature within the interior space 22.

Where the cabinet 10 is provided with a heated floor 48, the “HEATED”mode of the cabinet 10 comprise heating of the floor 48 alone, operationof the heater cassette 40 alone, or heating of the floor 48 incombination with operation of the heater cassette 40.

It will be appreciated that multiple cabinets 10 may be stacked on topof one another or held in spaced relationship to one another in a rackor similar such holding apparatus. The cabinets 10 may be operatedindependently of one another so as to have interior spaces 22 withdifferent temperatures. The thermal insulation characteristics of thechassis 26 of the cabinets 10 ensures that adjacent cabinets do notaffect or influence the temperature of each other.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 10 there is shown an alternative embodimentof a cabinet generally designated 110. Features common to the embodimentof the cabinet 10 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 areidentified with like reference numerals. The cabinet 110 is bothconstructed and operable in the same manner as the cabinet 10 describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The cabinet 110 differs in that theinterior space 122 is divided in to separate portions or zones. In theembodiment shown, the interior space 122 is divided into four zonesA,B,C and D. The temperature within each zone A,B,C,D can be controlledindependently of the other zones.

The division of the interior space 122 is achieved by the provision ofthree horizontal shelves 174 a, 174 b, 174 c. Each shelf 174 a, 174 b,174 c defines both the base of an upper zone and the top of a lowerzone. The shelves 174 a, 174 b, 174 c are load bearing and thus cansupport food products placed thereupon.

FIG. 10 shows the chassis 126 of the cabinet 110. As before, the chassis126 is constructed from a plurality of panels formed from a sandwichcomposite material. The composite material comprises an inner core ofexpanded polymer which is sandwiched between two opposing metal skins.The chassis 126 comprises a base panel 112 a, a top panel 116 a, fourrear panels 114 a and three intermediate panels 176 a which define theaforementioned shelves 174 a, 174 b, 174 c. The chassis 126 is furtherprovided “L” shaped supports 178 which extend between the rear 114 a andtop 116 a panel, and rear 114 a and intermediate panels 176 a to theinterior of the chassis 26. As before, the panels 112 a, 114 a, 116 a,176 a are mechanically connected to one another to form the chassis 126.

The chassis 126 forms the primary load bearing structure of the cabinet110. The chassis 126 further provides thermal insulation between theinterior and exterior of the cabinet 110. The intermediate panels 176 afurther serve to provide a thermal barrier between the interior zonesA,B,C,D of the cabinet 110.

In the embodiment shown, the cabinet 110 has four zones A,B,C,D. It willbe appreciated that the same construction method may be utilised toproduce a cabinet with as few as two zones, or more than four zones.

1. An open fronted food storage cabinet, comprising: a top, rear, baseand opposed sides, the top, rear, base and opposed sides defining aninterior space of the cabinet which is accessible through an opening tothe front of the cabinet defined between edges of the top, base andopposed sides of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet includes an interiorchassis structure comprised of a base panel, a rear panel and a toppanel which are mechanically connected to one another, wherein furtherthe base panel, rear panel and top panel are each formed from astructural sandwich composite material having thermal insulationproperties, and further wherein the rear panel includes an aperture towhich a mechanism operable to alter the temperature within interiorspace of the cabinet is mounted, the mechanism being in the form of acassette which is fittable to and removable from the aperture.
 2. Anopen fronted food storage cabinet according to claim 1, wherein thestructural sandwich composite material includes an inner core ofexpanded polymer and outer metal layers.
 3. An open fronted food storagecabinet according to claim 2, wherein the expanded polymer is expandedpolystyrene.
 4. An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim2, wherein the expanded polymer is expanded polypropylene.
 5. An openfronted food storage cabinet according to claim 2, wherein the outermetal layers are Aluminium alloy.
 6. An open fronted food storagecabinet according to claim 1, wherein the opposed sides of the cabinetcomprise side panels which are mounted to the interior chassis structureof the cabinet.
 7. An open fronted food storage cabinet according toclaim 6, wherein the structural sandwich composite material includes aninner core of expanded polymer, further wherein the side panels aremounted to the chassis structure by fasteners which extend throughapertures in the side panels and into fixtures located within theexpanded polymer of the chassis.
 8. An open fronted food storage cabinetaccording to claim 1, wherein the mechanism operable to alter thetemperature within interior space of the cabinet is a heating mechanism.9. An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim 8, whereinthe heating mechanism includes an electric heating element and a fan.10. An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim 9, whereinthe cabinet includes an additional heating means located in a lowerregion of the cabinet interior space.
 11. An open fronted food storagecabinet according to claim 10, wherein the additional heating means is aheated floor of the cabinet interior space.
 12. An open fronted foodstorage cabinet according to claim 11, wherein the heated floorcomprises a glass ceramic plate and an electrical resistance heater. 13.An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim 11, wherein theheated floor of the cabinet is operable independently of the fan andheating element of the heating mechanism.
 14. An open fronted foodstorage cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism operable toalter the temperature within interior space of the cabinet is a coolingmechanism.
 15. An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim14, wherein the cooling mechanism includes a fan and a refrigerationcircuit or a Peltier device.
 16. An open fronted food storage cabinet,comprising: a top, rear, base and opposed sides, the top, rear, base andopposed sides defining an interior space of the cabinet which isaccessible through an opening to the front of the cabinet definedbetween edges of the top base and opposing sides of the cabinet, whereinthe cabinet includes an interior chassis structure comprised of a basepanel, an upper rear panel, a lower rear panel, a top panel and anintermediate panel which are mechanically connected to one another, theintermediate panel being positioned between the upper and lower rearpanels to divide the interior space into an upper portion and a lowerportion, further wherein the base panel, upper and lower rear panels,intermediate panel and top panel are each formed from a structuralsandwich composite material having thermal insulation properties, andfurther wherein at least one of the upper and lower rear panels includesan aperture to which a mechanism operable to alter the temperaturewithin interior space of the cabinet is mounted, the mechanism being inthe form of a cassette which is fittable to and removable from theaperture.
 17. An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim16, wherein the structural sandwich composite material includes an innercore of expanded polymer and outer metal layers.
 18. An open frontedfood storage cabinet according to claim 17, wherein the expanded polymeris expanded polystyrene.
 19. An open fronted food storage cabinetaccording to claim 17, wherein the expanded polymer is expandedpolypropylene.
 20. An open fronted food storage cabinet according toclaim 17, wherein the outer metal layers are Aluminium alloy.
 21. Anopen fronted food storage cabinet according to claim 16, wherein theopposed sides of the cabinet comprise side panels which are mounted tothe chassis structure of the cabinet.
 22. An open fronted food storagecabinet according to claim 21, wherein the structural sandwich compositematerial includes an inner core of expanded polymer, further wherein theside panels are mounted to the chassis structure by fasteners whichextend through apertures in the side panels and into fixtures locatedwithin the expanded polymer of the chassis.
 23. An open fronted foodstorage cabinet according to claim 16, wherein the mechanism operable toalter the temperature within interior space of the cabinet is a heatingmechanism.
 24. An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim23, wherein the heating mechanism includes an electric heating elementand a fan.
 25. An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim24, wherein the cabinet includes an additional heating means located ina lower region of the cabinet interior space.
 26. An open fronted foodstorage cabinet according to claim 25, wherein the additional heatingmeans is a heated floor of the cabinet interior space.
 27. An openfronted food storage cabinet according to claim 26, wherein the heatedfloor comprises a glass ceramic plate and an electrical resistanceheater.
 28. An open fronted food storage cabinet according to claim 26,wherein the heated floor of the cabinet is operable independently of thefan and heating element of the heating mechanism.
 29. An open frontedfood storage cabinet according to claim 16, wherein the mechanismoperable to alter the temperature within interior space of the cabinetis a cooling mechanism.
 30. An open fronted food storage cabinetaccording to claim 29, wherein the cooling mechanism includes a fan andrefrigeration circuit or a Peltier device.